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109 results across all types
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Vinteloper Rogue Pinot Noir 2024
This is an uber cool Pinot that evokes wine bar beats with the lights turned down low. Some wines seek analytics and scores, yet others, like this, seek companionship, cosy corners and echoes of laughter. Splash this around liberally and you'll know what I mean. David Bowley has been sourcing fruit from this vineyard for some time, but these barrels showed some 'pixie dust', so he says. From the Kuipto district of the Adelaide Hills, it sees French oak for ten months (35% new). Dark cherries, blackberry leaf, orange peel, cured meats and bacon hock make a mighty first impression. Waves of savoury nuances follow and cascade effortlessly in the form of dried leaves, twigs, tilled earth, a faint hint of pine needle and mushroom compost. Delicate spices wrap themselves around the frame and drive long. Although a touch linear on the palate, the use of whole bunches is evident with that savoury thumbprint. Perhaps the best way to consider this wine in three words is savoury, effortles
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Burton McMahon D’Aloisio’s Vineyard Chardonnay 2024
Asserting itself with a lean and pristine persona, this D'Aloisio's Chardonnay from Burton McMahon is chiselled, deliberate, focused and bloody delicious. From a vineyard 230 metres above in the Seville district of the Yarra Valley, white-fleshed nectarines and bright grapefruit set the tone with a subtle nuttiness as cashews and nougat are woven effortlessly throughout. Layers of woodsy spices and vanilla cream elevate the flavour profile with flashes of green apple darting about, adding brightness and energy. Balanced and focused, the elegance struts as some depth motions ever so quietly in the background with a Mediterranean tonic texture presence. A striking and compelling Chardonnay that is utterly delicious, there is a strong case here for you to indulge. And so you should, it's excellent. 95/100 Region: Yarra Valley RRP: $60 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Ballandean Estate Chardonnay 2024
Sitting on the richer side of the Chardonnay spectrum, this release from Ballandean Estate possesses charming appeal and is ready for a cool, wet evening with a roast chook in the oven. Barbecued peach, lemon balm, old school lemonade and Danish pastry aromas flow with ease to an expressive and generous palate. Nougat, vanilla slice, almonds and roasted cashews add some savoury appeal. Bickford's lemon cordial finds its moment to pounce, and time in oak is evident, delivering threads of creaminess that fold into the frame with ease. Fine ginger-like spice tap away on a lengthy finish. The longer I peruse, the more I want in, such is the balance and considered length. I have seen many Chardonnays with a similar frame and shape for $50+, so I was mightily impressed when I discovered that this chases a humble $36. Terrific drinking. Bravo! 93/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $36 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram
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Usher Tinkler Reserve Shiraz 2023
Leading with a savoury and brooding aroma profile, be sure to give this Usher Tinkler Reserve Shiraz a decant before serving. Ground coffee and mocha aromas set the tone with dark berries, ripe plums and the flicker of crunchy red apples. A fine ribbon of dark chocolate moves and sways throughout adding another level of detail. Drying, there is an unmissable rustic presence that has me hooked. Layers of woodsy spices, meat rub spices and a smoky edge build further detail to peel back. That smoky character brings a hock and char note and all I can think of from this point is a night by the fire pit with large steaks sizzling over golden coals. That cool country air, the rustic vibes and the glow of the coals would bring all these elements together in a neat power play. Great stuff. 92/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP: $75 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Turkey Flat Butcher's Block GSM 2024
We're onto something here. Bring me all those lifted florals and vibrant fruit. This is a super Butcher's Block GSM release that delivers and then some for $27. It opens with a cascade of blueberries, mulberries and strawberries not to mention delightful aromas of violets. With what appears to be a glossy sheen, there is an evocative blueberry paste note along with a fine thread of red currants and a dash of chocolate. Lean into this a little more with its terrific shape and flow, elevating its approachability. Five spice and exotic spices are threaded through the core, completing a GSM that is composed and humble rather than OTT and showy. What a beauty! 92/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $27 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Turkey Flat Butcher's Block Shiraz 2024
Generous and plush, this Butcher's Block Shiraz is ripe to the core. Indulgent aromas of berry pie, Dutch cocoa and freshly baked brownie, it walks with broad shoulders to carry that ripe fruit. Woodsy and exotic spices mingle before broad, furry and dusty tannins have the last word. Ideally, I'm looking for some finesse and lift at this price point. So much so, I much preferred its GSM sibling . 88/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $27 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Grant Nash Grenache 2024
With a persona edging on robust with some generosity, this Grant Nash Grenache opens with a warm, spice-laden frame that sets the tone. Inviting aromas of baked raspberries, red currants and ripe red cherries lead the charge, all wrapped up in a neat parcel that echoes Cherry Ripe slice. Of note, it strikes a mean balance between fruit intensity and a savoury intrigue. Exotic spices weave about the palate with ease offering a neat, rustic, earthy edge. Perhaps this is the splash of Mourvedre talking? Some meatiness tucks in beneath, too. In all, it calls for food and I reckon it would smash burger night with ease. 92/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Samantha May Chenin Blanc 2025
Another beauty from Samantha May Wines, this Chenin Blanc comes from a place you'd least expect - Gundagai. Fermented in a clay amphora, it sees time in a mix of seasoned Austrian and French oak. Expressive aromas from the outset of beeswax, honeysuckle and yellow peach skin get my attention. There is a curiosity that builds with intrigue as I taste, and I get the sense that it is an enigmatic character of sorts, almost resisting full disclosure. A gentle, rich presence is partnered by a restrained drive with almond meal, pie apple and nougat creaminess building further delight through the palate. It gives off a distinct sense of autumnal appeal with a green apple-esque crunch on close. Not to be outdone, subtle tonic edge extends the textural appeal, reaching long through to a moreish and contemplative finish. And that's precisely it, it's a wine of complexity, interest and contemplation. Beautifully done. 93/100 Region: Gundagai RRP: $42 Source: Sample Winery Websi
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Grant Nash Grenache Gris 2025
Add this to your springtime lunch list. Fresh, vibrant and crisp, there is much to adore about this Grant Nash Grenache Gris. Perfect for Friday knock-offs as well, it sees some time in seasoned oak which adds a fine veil of texture. White flowers, pink lady apples, white-fleshed nectarine, white cherries and a deft touch of minerality build a strong case for refreshment. The texture can be best described as chalky as it taps away, but it is not drying. A drop of lemon juice ties in late with a faint, stealth-like cinnamon spice reaching out with persistence. Beautiful drinking. Go here. 93/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Ballandean Estate Wild Ferment Fiano 2025
Since its first release in 2012, this Ballandean Estate Fiano has always been a high performer. For those who seek interest and texture in their white wines, wander over this way. Over the years, this wine has taken several iterations in its making, but that fine sheet of textural delight has always been a feature. Aromas of canned apricot, white-fleshed peaches, Danish pastry, almond blossom and white field flowers make a captivating and engaging entrance. There is a fabulous consistency between the aroma profile and the palate as they flow into one another seamlessly. The fruit washes through with a sense of calm offering detail, width and a superb length. Ready to plough through a cheeseboard, a creamy pasta dish or even roast chicken night, sit back and embrace with a Duchenne smile for the win. 92/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $32 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Sorby Adams Gudilly Pinot Gris 2026
Wines like this will become the house pour during the warmer months across the country. A fresh, inviting and most approachable Pinot Gris from Sorby Adams. There is plenty to engage with here. Think cut white field flowers, green apples, poached pears and canned applse along with a neat lemony zip. A fine textural presence offers a green tea-like tannin feel that heightens its food friendliness. The label suggests fish tacos and sushi and I reckon that is bang on. I'd hate to mess with a winning formula. Top stuff and good buying for $24. 91/100 Region: Riverland RRP: $24 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Head Wines Riesling 2025
Big love for this Eden Valley Riesling! From 1940s planted vines, it's bright, fresh and utterly smashable. Alive with fresh green apples, lime juice and a fine thread of riverstone minerality, I'm infatuated with the chalky and powdery feels that this leaves in its wake. So moreish indeed. A fine sheet of texture adds detail with a little yellow grapefruit tang for good measure. Elevate your pool days or fish and chips with this in your glass, one splash at a time. 94/100 Region: Eden Valley RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Ballandean Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Spring long lunch in a glass, this fresh, vibrant and super crisp Semillon Sauvignon Blanc from the Granite Belt's Ballandean Estate is an excitement machine. A starburst of lemongrass, pineapple sage, green melon, passionfruit and lime juice explodes from the glass and flows neatly onto the palate. Add a fine sheet of texture to the mid-palate and a clean, crisp lemon sherbet acidity, and you have a very handy wine on your hands. Expressive, alive and delicious, this is a great drink. 92/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $25 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Cael's Gate Semillon 2026
A new producer to me, in comes this Hunter Valley Semillon from Cael's Gate. Fresh green apple and lemongrass aromas spill from the glass offering a welcome invitation. The longer it sits, mind you, some bruised red apple aromas appear. A fine phenolic grip glues itself to the palate, with those aromas flowing onto it. Curiously, that bruised red apple trait builds momentum through the mouth and arrests attention. A whip crack of lemon-like acidity on close cleanses the palate, but I suspect this will go better with food. 86/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Cael's Gate Verdelho 2026
From the Fordwich sub-region of the Hunter comes this Cael's Gate Verdelho. A Portuguese variety known for its tropical fruit and lift, I see it speckled with esters. Green apple and banana aromas take flight. Crisp to taste, it's a Verdelho that plants itself on that green apple spectrum, which is not entirely varietal. The lemon-like acidity has a pinch and the palate is clipped and doesn't flow through as much as hoped. I'd prefer others. 84/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Dexter Pinot Noir 2024
This Dexter Pinot Noir is a really cool wine. Actually, it's better than cool. It's brilliant. The more I perused, the more I loved it. As time passed, I drained that bottle with ease. Great fruit, incredible detail and a most respectable pedigree, this is a winner all the way. Silky, seductive and deliciously captivating, you'd be forgiven for not sharing this with anyone. There is a precision and elegance that captivates. Delicate red cherry and strawberry fruit make the first impression before the ripples of savoury delight wash through. Layers of pine needles, mushrooms, dried tea leaves, orange peel, and even the faintest hint of rosemary sprig offer much to ponder, leading to a persistent and perfectly pitched finish. The shape and flow ooze class deluxe. It's quite a seductive Pinot - be warned. 95/100 Region: Mornington Peninsula RRP: $65 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and
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Dexter Chardonnay 2024
Bright and fresh with a Chablis-esque disposition, this Dexter Chardonnay is excellent. The wine was matured for 11 months in French oak puncheons (20% new), with 50% undergoing malolactic fermentation. Aromas of white field flowers, lemon juice and old school lemonade get you in the mood with white-fleshed nectarines and a sizzling grapefruit acidity arresting your attention on the palate. With a captivating tension and nougat creaminess, a flirtatious vanilla custard note moves about with ease. The length and balance welcome you back with open arms time and again, yet the energy is uplifting and graceful all at the same time. That length. That shape. What a beauty! 94/100 Region: Mornington Peninsula RRP: $55 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Grant Nash Old Mate 128 Grenache 2025
There is an elegant simplicity about this Old Mate 128 Grenache from Grant Nash Wines that has me leaning in a little closer. Closed and not overly expressive aromatically on opening, raspberries and raspberry rope do their best to emerge. Spiced red berries and red currants plant themselves on the mid-palate with poached rhubarb, raspberries and strawberries circling the wagons. Sheets of dusty tannins coat the palate late as fine spices tighten the noose and cling on for dear life. A pre-release sample, I reckon this will show better with some more bottle age. 92/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $65 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Arila Gardens Moppa GSM 2024
From the Moppa sub-region of the Barossa comes this Arila Gardens GSM ready to snuggle up to on a winter's night. Grown at 300 metres above sea level on a mix of ironstone and quartz soils, the vine material contributing to this blend is up to 130 years of age. A blend of 64/34/2, the fruit is sourced from two sites. A vivid purple hue greets the eye with a core of mulberries, blueberries and cherry fruit, not to mention a neat raspberry cameo. Silky with a terrific shape, savoury nuances from cola, soy, black tea and puffs of earthiness play respectable supporting roles. Dusty tannins are scattered through a sustained finish - that length is certainly a highlight and demands another sip. Once again, a great release from winemaker Adam Clay. 93/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $45 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Samantha May Nebbiolo 2025
Wines like this from Samantha May are why I love doing what I do. Is it the best Nebbiolo I've ever had? No. But do I want to keep on topping up my glass? Hell yes! Based in Mudgee, Samantha Sutherland is behind her label Samantha May Wines, sourcing fruit from a few regions around New South Wales. This Nebbiolo comes from Gundagai, a region not known for producing Grand Cru wines, and perhaps that's the perception we need to change in this Australian wine landscape. If the soil is right, the climate is good and the making is great, does it matter? Importantly, though, this wine needs a decant. I say that because when I opened it and tasted it immediately after a few swirls, a potato sack and damp type aroma arrested my attention and focus. I was looking at a number of wines at the time, so I parked it for the next day and what a metamorphosis it underwent! Silky, dancy and damn delicious. Woah! Layered with interest, think cherries and cherry pips, red plums, orange peel, black
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Head Wines Old Vine Grenache 2024
A blend of three sites with significant age, this is an excellent expression of Barossa Grenache. Sourced from a dry-grown 1940s block in Pewsey Vale with smaller contributions from the 1880s planted Riebke site in Ebenezer and the 1858 planted Stonegarden site in Springton, this is certainly a great exercise in the sum of the parts. Awash with juicy and vibrant red fruit, red currants, raspberries and squishy blueberries make their mark. Time in the glass sees raspberry rope, rhubarb and orange peel emerge. Dangerously silky, a smattering of fine exotic spice reaches long onto a persistent and seductively moreish finish. For 40 bucks, this is a beauty. Bravo! 94/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Burton McMahon Lusatia Park Chardonnay 2024
Woah! Big love right here. From Woori Yallock in the Yarra Valley perched 180 metres above, this Burton McMahon Lusatia Park Chardonnay is an exhibition of fabulous drive, balance and restrained power. The fruit was handpicked, whole bunch pressed and racked to barrel on 95% solids for wild yeast fermentation. Malo was not encouraged and it matured in French oak (30% new) for ten months. It opens with expressive aromas of caramel drops, Golden Rough, dedicated coconut and barbecued peach. There is a neat flow onto the palate with nougat and green apple adding detail. Possessing a delicate texture, there is a flash of lemon granita and yellow grapefruit on close. Oh, how I want more with each sip I take. Glorious. 94/100 Region: Yarra Valley RRP: $60 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Usher Tinkler Devil's Kitchen Pinot Noir 2025
Quite a different wine to the captivating and utterly delicious 2024 release , this Devil's Kitchen Pinot Noir from Usher Tinkler took me aback on opening. Joyous and juicy were the buzzwords with the 2024, but here I felt it was ripe and stewed on opening. I parked it and returned a day later, only to reveal it had taken quite a turn for the better. Perhaps there was some pent-up tension that needed release? Scents of rose hip and dried red petals skipped out with a plummy and dark cherry frame. Delightfully medium-bodied, some meaty things lurk within too - think pan juices and charcuterie. Finely textured with sandy-like tannins, recline by the fire pit and you're set. 90/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP: $55 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Hiatus Beers Non Alcoholic Pale Ale
These Hiatus Non Alcohol beers are the business! One of three in the range, this Pale Ale is an excellent alternative to the fully leaded versions in the marketplace. Full-flavoured, it delivers more than its alcohol-free status suggests. Jules Ryan is at the helm. With some serious brewing knowledge and experience after stints at Stone & Wood, Balter and Little Creatures, he saw a hole in the market that he has filled admirably with his Hiatus beers. Fine malt characters from SM40 and Voyager provide a more than respectable foundation while a blend of El Dorado, Amarillo and Cascade hops brings a swathe of vibrant tropical and citrus aromas. Full-flavoured with hints of guava and tropical fruits, a balanced bitterness keeps everything in check before a clean and crisp finish invites another sip. What I find most appealing is that this Pale Ale does not rely on sweetness to build the flavour profile, rather delivering a beer that is fresh, balanced and tastes exactly how a P